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Geophysical and Structural Survey in the Diagnosis of Leaks at a Fuel Station in a Uranium Mine in Decommissioning Phase (Poços de Caldas, Brazil)

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Abstract

Mining enterprises are, in essence, landscape modifiers and sources of long-term environmental degradation. The development of activities within the mines requires a complex logistical system for better functioning. It is common to have gas stations in the vicinity of mining areas as a support for supplying vehicles and machines. Inadequate operation and the absence of monitoring, as well as a planned closure of the activities of these stations, may impose risks of contamination of the geological environment. This work presents the efficiency of using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to map aged hydrocarbon in the subsurface in a former gas station area in a uranium mine. The presence and flow of hydrocarbons in the geological environment are also investigated through structural analysis of the area integrated with the geophysical results. The ERT results show a clear connection between the low-resistivity anomalies contained in the subsoil and the presence of the rock mass. Of particular interest, the ERT results made it possible to model the fractures contained in the subsoil and that condition a certain flow orientation between porous and fractured systems. The integrated analysis of geophysical and structural surveys proved to be essential in cases of fractured aquifer contamination.

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Data Availability

Not applicable; Brazilian Nuclear Industries (Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil—INB) provided access to the study area.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for the financial support through Process Number 2018/14565-3 (Regular Project), the Applied Geology Department of UNESP—Rio Claro for the availability of the geophysical equipment, and the Brazilian Nuclear Industries (Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil—INB) for providing access to the study area.

Funding

This research was funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) through Process Number 2018/14565-3 (Regular Project) and by the Geology Department of UNESP—Rio Claro that made the geophysical equipment available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology (DG), Geosciences and Exact Sciences Institute (IGCE), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 24-A Avenue, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil

    César Augusto Moreira

  2. Environment and Water Resources Department, São Paulo College of Technology (FATEC), Jahu, SP, Brazil

    Lívia Portes Innocenti Helene

  3. Geology Department, Center for Natural and Health Sciences, Espírito Santo Federal University (UFES), Alegre, ES, Brazil

    Marcos Eduardo Hartwig

  4. Post-graduation Program in Geosciences and Environmental Science, Geosciences and Exact Sciences Institute (IGCE), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil

    Rebeca Lourenço, Matheus Mistrinel Pacine Feitoza do Nascimento & Debora Andrade Targa

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  1. César Augusto Moreira
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  2. Lívia Portes Innocenti Helene
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  3. Marcos Eduardo Hartwig
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Moreira, C.A., Helene, L.P.I., Hartwig, M.E. et al. Geophysical and Structural Survey in the Diagnosis of Leaks at a Fuel Station in a Uranium Mine in Decommissioning Phase (Poços de Caldas, Brazil). Pure Appl. Geophys. 178, 3489–3504 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02828-6

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